⚡️🇮🇷🇺🇸WindwardAI analysis — Despite the recent U.S. Project Freedom operations, Iran's "dark fleet" sustains oil export flows using proven evasion tactics like AIS blackouts, ship-to-ship transfers (STS), and alternative routes.

🏳 Kharg Island (key crude export hub): Operates nearly fully dark.

- Satellite imagery (EO and SAR) from April 30-May 4 shows ongoing activity: 5 dark tankers on April 30 (including VLCC VIGOR, ~2M barrel capacity loading) [1st attached photo];

- Up to 23 dark vessels May 1 with 12 VLCCs queued offshore [2nd attached photo];

- 6-20 dark ships May 2-3, rotating queues and berth loadings (Panamax/Aframax) [3rd/4th attached photos].

- VIGOR (OFAC-sanctioned) arrived dark from Indonesia's Riau, loaded, departed [VIGOR path, 5th attached photo]; new VLCC replaced it May 4.

System remains constrained yet persistent.

➡️ Route shift to Lombok Strait (Indonesia): Iranian tankers bypass surveilled Malacca Strait via longer Lombok path.

Confirmed Iran-flagged VLCCs [pathing showed in the 6th attached photo]:

- HUGE (IMO 9357183) entered May 3 (brief AIS then dark);

- DERYA (IMO 9569700) May 4 after failed India bid.

These represent the first tracked Asian arrivals post-April 24, likely destined for Riau STS operations or bound for China.

👁 Other evasion examples:

- Sanctioned LPG tanker NOOH GAS (IMO 9034690, ex-LUMA) transited Hormuz May 4 under Botswana flag with dual identity, southern Larak routing.

- Persistent dark ops at Larak/Bushehr.

- May 2 SAR: 62 vessels >100m near Hormuz, 49 dark.

👻 Outlook: Project Freedom has shielded clean traffic; however, the dark fleet adapts through deeper Kharg concealment, Lombok routing, identity swaps, and ship-to-ship transfers.

Iran maintains reduced but viable exports (primarily to China) via blockade-tested resilience — via Windward assessments.

💬Follow @MaxOsintIntel